Entire Michigan legislature should be recalled if we have a Government Shutdown

I do everything I can to promote the state of Michigan. I have avoided commenting on this whole state budget crisis up to this point, but I can't take it anymore. If on October 1, the state of Michigan does indeed have to shutdown our government due to a lack of a workable budget we should recall the entire legislature from the Governor on down the line. Is it or is it not their jobs to avoid a situation such as this?

Did they not know this has been coming for the last several months?

Michigan is on the cusp of becoming a national laughingstock if our elected officials stick their collective heads in the sand and our government is forced to shutdown. In addition to becoming the butt of jokes across the country there are essential services that could possibly stop along with the shutdown.

Need to renew your license at the Secretary of State? Spend a weekend camping at a state park? A shutdown could potentially close numerous departments that will affect a lot of Michigan residents.

We need better answers than simply saying that a tax increase will make things better. What about in a couple of years when property tax revenue goes in the tank due to lower assessment values in the real estate sector because of Michigan's slumping housing market and mass exodus from the state? Another tax increase?

If our elected officials cannot run the state, why should they keep their jobs? A lot of good hard workers in this state continue to lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Why should we employ legislators who do not do theirs?

I have contacted my state senator regarding this matter, perhaps we all should.

See the article on the Detroit News, Senate Spars over budget

Michigan Chamber of Commerce endorses gas tax hike

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the "usually anti-tax Michigan Chamber of Commerce endorsed increases in the state’s gasoline and diesel taxes today to hasten road and bridge repair and construction. It even advocate the authorization of motor vehicle registration fees by counties to pay for additional work and mass transit." I have already made my thoughts clear on what I think of raising taxes and fees.

I still firmly believe that rather than take a look at trimming the fat from the budget (it's 140 pages long - there has to be places to make cuts in there) Governor Granholm and the State Legislature look for ways to increase funds in order to balance the budget. Whether it's an increase on alcohol and cigarette taxes or an increase in what we pay sales tax on it's just the same story, different day.

What ever happened to government being "of the people, by the people, and for the people?" Abraham Lincoln made those remarks in his Gettysburg Address.

It seems the Granholm administration believes that government is to be paid for by the people - after all it IS for the people, right?